The process of the major advertisement to fill 1,131 medical staff positions in the National Health System is progressing particularly positively. As Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistocleous told ACTION 24, the process is still in its early days, but so far there has been a very good response. In fact, he noted that “there are positions in which 8, 9 and 10 candidates are already registered, which shows that the NHS is attracting people again and attracting young people again.”
The Deputy Minister of Health described this particular notice as “one of the biggest notices in recent years”, explaining that it mainly concerns hospitals, but also includes positions in Primary Health Care. As he stressed, “all available positions have been advertised, with the aim of covering the vast majority of needs.”
With regard to the gaps in the NHS, remote areas and the movement of doctors, Themistocleous noted: “Emergencies will always arise. A doctor may take long-term sick leave or an unforeseen event may occur, which creates a need for coverage through travel.” He stressed that Greece has a very difficult geographical terrain, with many small islands where travel is more difficult than on the mainland. To meet these needs, he said there is a significant incentive of around €2,000 per month for each doctor’s travel. He noted, “this incentive has solved many problems, as the aim is not to put administrative pressure on a doctor to move without his/her wish, but to have a substantial incentive to ensure that needs are met.”
On the subject of incentives for small islands, Themistocleous made special reference to the important donation of the Stelios Hadjiyannou Foundation, which provides an additional 1,500 euros per month, tax-free, in addition to the salary, for doctors serving on 47 small islands.
The Deputy Minister also presented key interventions to reduce waiting times in Emergency Departments and operating theatres, as well as the creation of new structures for autism and Alzheimer’s disease. At the same time, he referred to the positive image of the evaluation of hospitals by the patients themselves.
“About a year ago, the average waiting time was about 9 hours. Today, this time has been reduced to 4.5 hours,” the deputy minister said. Referring to operating theatres and the reduction in waiting times, he noted that “this is one of the biggest operational programmes the NHS has had in recent years. Two years ago there were waits of more than 3 and 4 years, whereas today the vast majority of cases are under 6 months”. The Deputy Health Minister noted that “the programme is being completed and is achieving its target, with very little left to be rectified in the next 3 months”. He explained that progress was achieved by increasing the number of morning surgeries, free afternoon surgeries in public hospitals and free surgeries in private hospitals. He particularly emphasized the fact that 50,000 more surgeries were performed in 2025 than in 2024, a development he attributed, among other things, to the recruitment of anesthesiologists and nurses.
As regards the evaluation of public hospitals by patients, he said that “the evaluation is positive, but that does not mean that there are no problems. According to the data, 75% of patients describe their hospitalization as good or very good, in a sample that now exceeds 50,000 evaluations,” and added: “The remaining 25% who say they are not satisfied is a valuable and realistic reflection, as it serves as a management tool to identify the problems that need to be corrected.”
Finally, when asked about the concern surrounding chantavirus and ebola, Themistocleous said: “No concern. Viruses are always there and there is nothing to be concerned about.” Referring specifically to Hantavirus, he noted that it is a well-known virus, which “does not spread easily” and is “very difficult to transmit”. On the fellow citizen found on the ship, he explained that “he is in good health and is not ill, and remains in quarantine until the 45-day period, which is the incubation period, is completed.”
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